Method and system of providing digital video remodulation

ABSTRACT

An approach is provided for distributing video signals. A digital video feed is received at a media distributor that includes a plurality of decoders and a corresponding plurality of modulators, wherein the digital video feed includes a plurality of video channels. The decoders decode the digital video feed to output analog video signals. The modulators modulate the analog video signals; and a combiner combines the outputs of the modulators to generate a channelized video signal.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Digital video transmission has rapidly grown in popularity because ofthe robustness of features and services. Notably, this technologyprovides many benefits to the consumer in the form of access to anexpansive channel lineup and on-demand/interactive services, whileminimizing the amount of bandwidth needed by the service provider forthese services. Such transmission can be delivered via satellite, cableor fiber optics. For example, cable systems can employ 6 MHZ analogvideo and/or digital Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) channels thatare frequency division multiplexed (FDM) across the 500-1000 MHZ cablebandwidth. In typical satellite systems, several compressed digitalvideo programs are time division multiplexed (TDM) into a single 10-40Mbit/s Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (QPSK) or Binary Phase Shift Keying(BPSK) modulated C- or K-band carrier. However, this digitaltransmission technology imposes a number of technical requirements thatmay be hard to satisfy using existing house video wiring systems. Forexample, in order to decode digital video into an analog form that canbe viewed by traditional television sets, a converter box is requiredfor each set. In some instances, this can be problematic as there may beno room available for the box close to the set and within line-of-sightfrom the viewing area for operation of a remote controller.

Many digital video implementations also require a higher signal-to-noise(S/N) ratio than analog systems to produce acceptable video images.Installations that have old wiring or video splitters in the walls mayhave difficulty achieving the required signal-to-noise ratios. Moreover,such wiring systems can even block the entire spectrum of the digitaltransmissions if they were installed before deployment of digital videotransmission standards. Moreover, older splitters can also block thereturn channel for interactive services over the digital video box,thereby preventing their use by the customer. Since each decoder boxoutputs only a single channel, it is also difficult to use such featuresas Picture In Picture (PIP) and recording one channel while viewinganother.

Traditional approaches to the above issues include rewiring of thepremises with cabling that is suitable for digital video, and utilizingtransmitter/receiver units to bypass the wiring. Rewiring for mostpremises can be prohibitively expensive. Both of these approachesrequire a device at each set; and even two devices are needed wherePicture-In-Picture (PIP) or simultaneous recording is being used. Theretransmission boxes also consume bandwidth in the facility (eitherRadio Frequency spectrum or Internet bandwidth), and necessitates apatchwork of separate devices to be linked together.

Therefore, there is a need for providing digital video transmission overextant wiring facilities without incurring high deployment costs for theservice provider or the consumers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various exemplary embodiments are illustrated by way of example, and notby way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings inwhich like reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a video system capable of providing digital videoremodulation, according with an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a media distributor configured to distributevideo signals, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a diagram of an exemplary deployment of the media distributorof FIG. 2 within a customer premises, according to an exemplaryembodiment;

FIG. 4 is a diagram of a remote control device capable of communicatingcommands to the media distributor of FIG. 2, according to an exemplaryembodiment;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a process for distributing video signals,according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a channel selection process provided by themedia distributor of FIG. 2, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a video broadcast process provided by the mediadistributor of FIG. 2, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a monitoring process provided by the mediadistributor of FIG. 2, according to an exemplary embodiment; and

FIG. 9 is a diagram of a computer system that can be used to implementvarious exemplary embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An apparatus, method, and software for providing video remodulation aredescribed. In the following description, for the purposes ofexplanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to providea thorough understanding of the various exemplary embodiments. It isapparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the various exemplaryembodiments may be practiced without these specific details or with anequivalent arrangement. In other instances, well-known structures anddevices are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid unnecessarilyobscuring the exemplary embodiments.

Although the various embodiments are described with respect to digitalvideo signals, it is contemplated that these embodiments haveapplicability to other digital media and content (e.g., audio, images,textual information, etc.).

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a video system capable of providing digital videoremodulation, according with an exemplary embodiment. A communicationsystem 100 provides video (and/or audio, images, textual, etc.) servicesto users via digital media distributors 101; each of the mediadistributors 101 a-101 n is configured to accept, for example, a digitalvideo feed and remodulate the feed to output analog signals. In otherwords, the process of converting the digital video signals to theiranalog equivalent entails decoding and subsequent modulation; thus, thisprocess can be termed “remodulation.” These analog signals can then bedistributed to one or more displays 103 over traditional residentialwiring within the customer premises 105, which can be a residential orcommercial dwelling.

Under this scenario, the source of the digital video feed is a serviceprovider network 107, which utilizes a distribution facility 109 totransport the digital video feed over, for example, an optical network,coaxial cable network, or other broadband systems. Because video contentis bandwidth intensive, the transmission facilities to the mediadistributors 101 can utilize fiber optic cables or other high capacitytransmission media (e.g., Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) connections,cable television connections, etc.).

For efficient transmission of digital video information, video encodingis employed to compress the digital information. The compressed digitalinformation can be in form of a digital video format, such as MPEG(Motion Picture Experts Group), MPEG-2, MPEG-4, ITU H.261 and H.263,CCIR-601, Rp125, etc. For example, a video decoding mechanism for theMPEG standard is detailed “ISO/IEC CD 13818: Informationtechnology—Generic coding of moving pictures and associated audioinformation,” Dec. 1, 1993 (which is incorporated herein by reference inits entirety). Alternatively, the compressed digital information can bein a JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) format, if the source isthe image source or the text source.

The service provider network 107, as the administrator of the videoservice, can obtain video content from television broadcast systems 111or other content service provider systems 113. Hence, the serviceprovider network 107 includes an administrator system (not shown) foroperational and management functions to deploy the video services. Theservice provider network 107 also has connectivity to a public datanetwork (not shown), such as the global Internet (or World Wide Web),whereby the administrator system can be accessed by a remote host, forexample.

As mentioned, it is recognized that the video distribution industry is achampion of digital video, in part, because digital video can supportgreater user functionality with relatively less bandwidth. In general,although digital video systems provide better utilization of resourcesthan analog video systems, such digital systems require a converter totranslate from the digital domain to the analog domain. The analogdomain is employed by most legacy and currently available video systems.These converters typically require high signal-to-noise (S/N) ratios,bidirectional communications and cabling that is incompatible with thetraditional wiring in many residential spaces.

Based on the above recognized problem, the system 100 uses the digitalmedia distributors 101 to convert from the digital domain to that of theanalog without the need to upgrade the wiring infrastructure.Effectively, each of the digital media distributors 101 a concentratesmultiple converters within a single housing at a location close to aninlet point for the digital video feed. As will be further explained,the channels that are requested from each video display 103 are thenmodulated onto separate analog channels so that they can be deliveredwithin the customer premises 105 on the existing video wiring.Furthermore, a remote control can send commands to the digital converterusing existing wireless techniques (e.g., infrared or radio frequency(RF) transmission).

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a media distributor configured to distributedigital video as analog signals, according to an exemplary embodiment. Amedia distributor 101 utilizes a set of digital video decoders 201,which receives a digital video feed 203 and decodes the digital streamto corresponding video modulators 205. In this configuration, the mediadistributor 101 can be denoted as a “video distributor.” The videodecoders 201 can include hardware (e.g., digital-to-analog (D/A)converter), software, etc. to decode the digital video feed using any ofa number of encoding techniques with which the video bitstream has beenencoded. As mentioned, the video format may involve data compression,and thus, the video decoders 201 would include a decompressioncomponent.

As shown, in addition to the digital video feed 203, the distributor 101includes one or more separate video inputs 207, which can receive videosignals from a variety of video sources 209. These sources 209 caninclude either digital or analog devices—e.g., a DVD (Digital VersatileDisc) player. The outputs of the modulators 205 are then combined usinga combiner 207 and sent out over traditional wiring.

The output of the decoders 201 can be any variety of analog videoformats—e.g., composite video, component analog video, etc., dependingon requirements of the displays 103. Also, exemplary television formatsutilized by the display 103 include NTSC (National Television SystemCommittee) video and PAL (Phase Alternation by Line) video. The NTSCline rate is 525 lines per frame, while the PAL line rate is 625 linesper frame.

Each video modulator 205 is tuned to a particular video channel. Thisconfiguration allows a user to switch between the outputs of thedifferent digital decoders 201 simply by changing the channel on theiranalog video device (e.g., 103 a). During operation, according to oneembodiment, one decoder/modulator pair is designated for each videodisplay device 103; in this manner, different video sources can beviewed simultaneously. Thus, the video display device 103 can be left onthe analog channel allocated to it.

The user can change the channel output by the digital decoder 201 (andhence the video being sent over the analog channel) using a wirelessremote system, including a remote control circuit 213 in communicationwith one or more remote control devices 215. The remote control devices215 can be configured to use infrared, or radio frequency (RF)technology to transmit signals over a predetermined range to properlypermit situating the video devices 103 throughout the customer premises105. This allows full access to all of the features of the digitalsystem without requiring a device collocated with the set andindependent of the quality of the wiring.

Additionally, a video controller 217 is coupled to the remote controlcircuit 213 to receive commands from the remote control devices 215. Thevideo controller 217 supports a rich set of functionalities, and outputsto the displays 103 via the video output ports 219. That is, the usercan change the analog channel of the display (or set) 103 to enable avariety of video display configurations, such as having all the sets 103in the premise 105 show a single video feed or effecting a monitoringcapability by allowing parents to remotely observe the program theirchild is watching (as later described in FIGS. 7 and 8, respectively).

FIG. 3 is a diagram of an exemplary deployment of the media distributorof FIG. 2 within a customer premises, according to an exemplaryembodiment. In this example, the customer premises 105 is a residentialdwelling having multiple displays (sets) 103 a-103 d situated in variouslocations through the home, such as the master bedroom, family room, denand kitchen. A media distributor 101 a, as a customer premises equipment(CPE) can be placed at any convenient location for receipt of a digitalvideo feed, and within range of the remote control devices 215 a-213 d.Each of the remote control devices 215 a-213 d can control programmingor the channel that is transmitted to the respective displays 103 a-103d. In addition, the remote control devices 215 a-213 d can providedifferent functions depending on the user—e.g., a parental user canimpose programming restrictions as well as enable a monitoring function.Moreover, such a user can instruct the media distributor 101 a, via aremote control device, to broadcast the same channel to all the displays103 a-103 d. These functions are more fully described in FIGS. 5-8.

The media distributor 101 a effectively provides a small scale cable TVsystem within the dwelling 105; as such, integration of other sources ofvideo can be readily supported. As shown in FIG. 2, the mediadistributor 101 a can provide one or more video inputs 207. For example,feeds from surveillance cameras or baby monitoring systems can be addedto the “channel lineup” simply by connecting them to additional videomodulators for different analog channels. In addition, DVD librarysystems or digital video recorder systems can be connected to the mediadistributor 101 a to allow on-demand access to an entire video libraryfrom anywhere in the house without requiring a separate player and mediafor each set 103 a-103 d. Integration of these functions is readilyachieved with the centralized media distributor 101, which can acceptradio or infrared inputs from the user through a remote control device215. In the alternative, the media distributor 101 itself can beequipped with an interface (not shown) for controlling the videosignals, with at least the functionalities of the remote control device215.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of a remote control device capable of communicatingcommands to the media distributor of FIG. 2, according to an exemplaryembodiment. By way of example, the remote control device 215 can beutilized to control the media distributor 101 as well as thecorresponding display 103. The device 215, in an exemplary embodiment,includes a key pad 401 for a user to select a channel or input othercommands. In addition, a cursor controller 403 can be provided toperform a host of functions, including channel selection, volumecontrol, display setting control, etc. The remote control device 215 canalso include a display 405 (e.g., LCD (liquid crystal display)), whichcan indicate the user inputs, provide an indicator of the presentprogramming and functions, etc. Further, the display 405 can be used inconjunction with the cursor controller 403 to implement soft keyfunctions, thereby providing more flexibility with respect to the userinterface for the device 215. A power button 407 is also included forpowering down the media distributor 101 and/or the display 103.

In this example, the remote control device 215 is configured with “hot”buttons 409 and 411 to initiate, respectively, a monitor command andbroadcast command. However, it is contemplated that other configurationsare possible; for example, these physical buttons 409 and 411 can beeliminated in lieu of soft buttons presented on the display 405.

As mentioned, the media distributor 101 provides a variety of functionsto manipulate the video signals stemming from the digital video feed, asnext explained. For the purposes of illustration, these functions aredescribed with respect to the device of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a process for distributing video signals,according to an exemplary embodiment. In step 501, the media distributor101 receives a digital video signals from the feed 203. The digitalvideo signals are then decoded by the array of digital video decoders201, as in step 503. The decoded signals are modulated, per step 505, bythe corresponding video modulators 205 to output equivalent analogsignals. In step 507, these analog signals are combined by the combiner207 to output a channelized analog video output. This analog output istransmitted, per step 509, over existing wiring to the displays 103.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a channel selection process provided by themedia distributor of FIG. 2, according to an exemplary embodiment. Inthis scenario, a user can instruct the media distributor 101 using aremote control device 215 to select a channel for a particular display103, which is not necessarily the display that is in close proximity tothe user. For instance, the user can be located in the kitchen, but yetcan select a channel for the display in another room, such as the familyroom. In step 601, the user inputs a command specifying a channelselection for a particular decoder/modulator pair by using the remotecontrol device 215, for instance. In response to this command (orrequest), the media distributor 101 changes the output of thecorresponding decoder/modulator pair (step 603); in the alternative, thevideo controller 217 can select the appropriate analog signalcorresponding to the selected channel to the video output port of theparticular display 213 associated with the user. In step 605, thechannel selection is then provided to the display of the correspondingdecoder/modulator pair.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a video broadcast process provided by the mediadistributor of FIG. 2, according to an exemplary embodiment. For thebroadcast function, the user can initiate this by depressing thebroadcast command button 411 (FIG. 4) on the remote control device 215,and utilizing the keypad 401 or cursor controller 403 to specify aparticular channel or program that is to be broadcast. Upon receivingthe command signal (per step 701), the media distributor 101 changes theoutput of every other decoder/modulator pairs to the selected channel,as in step 703. In step 705, the displays 103 are thus supplied withthis common programming.

Although the above process involves a broadcast function, it isrecognized that selective ones of the decoder/modulator pairs can bespecified. In such a scenario, not all the displays 103 are showing theselected channel, thereby permitting some displays to view otherprograms.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a monitoring process provided by the mediadistributor of FIG. 2, according to an exemplary embodiment. Thisfeature permits a user, such as a parent, to view the program that isshowing on the display of another user, e.g., a child. Turning to thescenario of FIG. 3, a parent within the master bedroom, for example, canmonitor what is being viewed in the family room where the child isentertaining his/her friends. This capability permits the parent toleave a child and his/her friends “alone,” but yet ensures that noinappropriate content is being viewed. With the convenience of awireless remote control device (e.g., device 215), the parent caninitiate this monitoring function, using the monitor command button 409.The user can specify the target display; that is, the display whosecontent is to be monitored. The media distributor 101 receives thecommand signal from the remote control device 215, as in step 801. Next,the media distributor 101 changes the output of the requestingdecoder/modulator pair to that of the output the decoder/modulator pairassociated with the target display (step 803). The output signal is thentransmitted, as in step 805, to the requesting display—i.e., displaywhere the user wishes to view the video signal that is being shown atthe target display.

The above described processes relating to providing video services usinga media distributor may be implemented via software, hardware (e.g.,general processor, Digital Signal Processing (DSP) chip, an ApplicationSpecific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), Field Programmable Gate Arrays(FPGAs), etc.), firmware or a combination thereof. Such exemplaryhardware for performing the described functions is detailed below.

FIG. 9 illustrates a computer system 900 upon which an exemplaryembodiment can be implemented. For example, the processes describedherein can be implemented using the computer system 900. The computersystem 900 includes a bus 901 or other communication mechanism forcommunicating information and a processor 903 coupled to the bus 901 forprocessing information. The computer system 900 also includes mainmemory 905, such as a random access memory (RAM) or other dynamicstorage device, coupled to the bus 901 for storing information andinstructions to be executed by the processor 903. Main memory 905 canalso be used for storing temporary variables or other intermediateinformation during execution of instructions by the processor 903. Thecomputer system 900 may further include a read only memory (ROM) 907 orother static storage device coupled to the bus 901 for storing staticinformation and instructions for the processor 903. A storage device909, such as a magnetic disk or optical disk, is coupled to the bus 901for persistently storing information and instructions.

The computer system 900 may be coupled via the bus 901 to a display 911,such as a cathode ray tube (CRT), liquid crystal display, active matrixdisplay, or plasma display, for displaying information to a computeruser. An input device 913, such as a keyboard including alphanumeric andother keys, is coupled to the bus 901 for communicating information andcommand selections to the processor 903. Another type of user inputdevice is a cursor control 915, such as a mouse, a trackball, or cursordirection keys, for communicating direction information and commandselections to the processor 903 and for controlling cursor movement onthe display 911.

According to an embodiment, the processes described herein are performedby the computer system 900, in response to the processor 903 executingan arrangement of instructions contained in main memory 905. Suchinstructions can be read into main memory 905 from anothercomputer-readable medium, such as the storage device 909. Execution ofthe arrangement of instructions contained in main memory 905 causes theprocessor 903 to perform the process steps described herein. One or moreprocessors in a multi-processing arrangement may also be employed toexecute the instructions contained in main memory 905. In alternativeembodiments, hard-wired circuitry may be used in place of or incombination with software instructions to implement the exemplaryembodiment. Thus, exemplary embodiments are not limited to any specificcombination of hardware circuitry and software.

The computer system 900 also includes a communication interface 917coupled to bus 901. The communication interface 917 provides a two-waydata communication coupling to a network link 919 connected to a localnetwork 921. For example, the communication interface 917 may be adigital subscriber line (DSL) card or modem, an integrated servicesdigital network (ISDN) card, a cable modem, a telephone modem, or anyother communication interface to provide a data communication connectionto a corresponding type of communication line. As another example,communication interface 917 may be a local area network (LAN) card (e.g.for Ethernet™ or an Asynchronous Transfer Model (ATM) network) toprovide a data communication connection to a compatible LAN. Wirelesslinks can also be implemented. In any such implementation, communicationinterface 917 sends and receives electrical, electromagnetic, or opticalsignals that carry digital data streams representing various types ofinformation. Further, the communication interface 917 can includeperipheral interface devices, such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB)interface, a PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card InternationalAssociation) interface, etc. Although a single communication interface917 is depicted in FIG. 9, multiple communication interfaces can also beemployed.

The network link 919 typically provides data communication through oneor more networks to other data devices. For example, the network link919 may provide a connection through local network 921 to a hostcomputer 923, which has connectivity to a network 925 (e.g. a wide areanetwork (WAN) or the global packet data communication network nowcommonly referred to as the “Internet”) or to data equipment operated bya service provider. The local network 921 and the network 925 both useelectrical, electromagnetic, or optical signals to convey informationand instructions. The signals through the various networks and thesignals on the network link 919 and through the communication interface917, which communicate digital data with the computer system 900, areexemplary forms of carrier waves bearing the information andinstructions.

The computer system 900 can send messages and receive data, includingprogram code, through the network(s), the network link 919, and thecommunication interface 917. In the Internet example, a server (notshown) might transmit requested code belonging to an application programfor implementing an exemplary embodiment through the network 925, thelocal network 921 and the communication interface 917. The processor 903may execute the transmitted code while being received and/or store thecode in the storage device 909, or other non-volatile storage for laterexecution. In this manner, the computer system 900 may obtainapplication code in the form of a carrier wave.

The term “computer-readable medium” as used herein refers to any mediumthat participates in providing instructions to the processor 903 forexecution. Such a medium may take many forms, including but not limitedto non-volatile media, volatile media, and transmission media.Non-volatile media include, for example, optical or magnetic disks, suchas the storage device 909. Volatile media include dynamic memory, suchas main memory 905. Transmission media include coaxial cables, copperwire and fiber optics, including the wires that comprise the bus 901.Transmission media can also take the form of acoustic, optical, orelectromagnetic waves, such as those generated during radio frequency(RF) and infrared (IR) data communications. Common forms ofcomputer-readable media include, for example, a floppy disk, a flexibledisk, hard disk, magnetic tape, any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM,CDRW, DVD, any other optical medium, punch cards, paper tape, opticalmark sheets, any other physical medium with patterns of holes or otheroptically recognizable indicia, a RAM, a PROM, and EPROM, a FLASH-EPROM,any other memory chip or cartridge, a carrier wave, or any other mediumfrom which a computer can read.

Various forms of computer-readable media may be involved in providinginstructions to a processor for execution. For example, the instructionsfor carrying out at least part of the various exemplary embodiments mayinitially be borne on a magnetic disk of a remote computer. In such ascenario, the remote computer loads the instructions into main memoryand sends the instructions over a telephone line using a modem. A modemof a local computer system receives the data on the telephone line anduses an infrared transmitter to convert the data to an infrared signaland transmit the infrared signal to a portable computing device, such asa personal digital assistant (PDA) or a laptop. An infrared detector onthe portable computing device receives the information and instructionsborne by the infrared signal and places the data on a bus. The busconveys the data to main memory, from which a processor retrieves andexecutes the instructions. The instructions received by main memory canoptionally be stored on storage device either before or after executionby processor.

In the preceding specification, various preferred embodiments have beendescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings. It will, however,be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto,and additional embodiments may be implemented, without departing fromthe broader scope of the invention as set forth in the claims that flow.The specification and the drawings are accordingly to be regarded in anillustrative rather than restrictive sense.

1. A method comprising: receiving a digital video feed at a mediadistributor that includes a plurality of decoders and a correspondingplurality of modulators, wherein the digital video feed includes aplurality of video channels; decoding, by the decoders, the digitalvideo feed to output analog video signals; modulating, by themodulators, the analog video signals; and combining outputs of themodulators to generate a channelized video signal.
 2. A method accordingto claim 1, further comprising: transmitting the channelized videosignal to a plurality of displays.
 3. A method according to claim 1,further comprising: receiving a command signal, from a remote controldevice, specifying selection of one of the video channels.
 4. A methodaccording to claim 1, further comprising: receiving a command signal,from a remote control device, specifying broadcast of one of the videochannels to one or more displays.
 5. A method according to claim 1,further comprising: receiving a video signal from a video sourcedifferent from the digital video feed.
 6. An apparatus comprising: aplurality of decoders configured to decode a digital video feed tooutput analog video signals, wherein the digital video feed includes aplurality of video channels; a plurality of modulators coupledrespectively to the decoders, the modulators being configured tomodulate the analog video signals; and a combiner configured to combineoutputs of the modulators to generate a channelized video signal.
 7. Anapparatus according to claim 6, wherein the channelized video signal istransmitted to a plurality of displays.
 8. An apparatus according toclaim 6, further comprising: a video controller coupled to the combinerfor outputting the channelized video signal; and a remote controlcircuit coupled to the video controller and configured to receive acommand signal, from a remote control device, specifying selection ofone of the video channels.
 9. An apparatus according to claim 6, furthercomprising: a video controller coupled to the combiner for outputtingthe channelized video signal; and a remote control circuit configured toreceive a command signal, from a remote control device, specifyingbroadcast of one of the video channels to one or more displays.
 10. Anapparatus according to claim 6, further comprising: a video inputcoupled to the combiner and configured to receive a video signal from avideo source different from the digital video feed.
 11. A methodcomprising: receiving content from one or more content providers;generating a digital video feed based on the received content; andproviding the digital video feed to a customer premises equipment over atransmission facility, wherein the customer premises equipment isconfigured to, decode the digital video feed to output analog videosignals, modulate the analog video signals, and combine the modulatedanalog video signals to generate a channelized video signal.
 12. Amethod according to claim 11, wherein the customer premises equipment isfurther configured to transmit the channelized video signal to aplurality of displays.
 13. A method according to claim 11, wherein thecustomer premises equipment is further configured to receive a commandsignal, from a remote control device, specifying selection of one of thevideo channels.
 14. A method according to claim 11, wherein the customerpremises equipment is further configured to receive a command signal,from a remote control device, specifying broadcast of one of the videochannels to one or more displays.
 15. A method according to claim 11,wherein the customer premises equipment is further configured to receivea video signal from a video source different from the digital videofeed.
 16. A system comprising: a network element configured to receivecontent from one or more content providers and to generate a digitalvideo feed based on the received content, wherein the digital video feedis provided to a customer premises equipment over a transmissionfacility, wherein the customer premises equipment is configured to,decode the digital video feed to output analog video signals, modulatethe analog video signals, and combine the modulated analog video signalsto generate a channelized video signal.
 17. A system according to claim16, wherein the customer premises equipment is further configured totransmit the channelized video signal to a plurality of displays.
 18. Asystem according to claim 16, wherein the customer premises equipment isfurther configured to receive a command signal, from a remote controldevice, specifying selection of one of the video channels.
 19. A systemaccording to claim 16, wherein the customer premises equipment isfurther configured to receive a command signal, from a remote controldevice, specifying broadcast of one of the video channels to one or moredisplays.
 20. A system according to claim 16, wherein the customerpremises equipment is further configured to receive a video signal froma video source different from the digital video feed.